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Defending state champion Punahou wanted to know what it had this year and found out it hasn’t changed very much.
Sarah Sumida launched a three-run home run in the third inning and Nicole Nishizawa made it stand up in the circle as the Buffanblu beat Kamehameha 4-2 on Saturday at Kamehameha. The Buffanblu beat the Warriors in last year’s state championship game.
"They are a great team, they have all of this talent and we just wanted to come in and see who we are," Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila said. "We lost so much last year. In the preseason you kind of know what you have, but until you play a team like Kamehameha you really don’t know."
Jessica Shimoda opened the third inning with a walk after fouling off five pitches. Amber Popovitch tried to advance her but punched her bunt over the charging defenders for a single. After Elise Nakamoto grounded out to third, Sumida took Kamehameha starter Kama Dung deep over the fence in right field.
"I was working insides today before practice because Kama always likes to throw me in," Sumida said. "She always jams me, but I was ready this time and stuck the bat out there and it just happened."
It was Sumida’s first game back from a quadriceps injury. The captain hit at the bottom of the order last season, but is in the second spot this year. Nishizawa was in a new spot as well, and handled it with aplomb. Nishizawa was a secondary pitcher behind Jaci Young, so she didn’t get much work, but she is the team’s ace this year.
"This year we have told her she is the pitcher," Makahilahila said. "In every inning she pitched, she displayed mental toughness. It was nice."
Nishizawa shut out the Warriors for the first six innings, allowing only two hits and stranding six runners the second time through the order. The rain bothered her a little in the seventh, but she closed it out.
Kamehameha scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning — the first on Rachel Ogasawara’s double off the wall, the second on a passed ball — but that’s where it ended.
"We want to play and compete until the very last pitch, and we did that," Kamehameha coach Aloha Yamaguchi said. "We have to keep our heads up."
| At Kamehameha |
| Punahou |
003 |
000 |
1–4 |
3 |
3 |
| Kamehameha |
000 |
000 |
2–2 |
5 |
1 |
Nicole Nishizawa and Sara Buck. Kama Dung, Chris Hipa (4) and Rachel Ogasawara. W-Nishizawa. L-Dung.
Leading hitters–Pun: Sarah Sumida 1-3, HR, 3 RBIs. KSK: Dung 1-1, 2 BBs.
OIA RED WEST
Waianae 1, Kapolei 0
Lauren Tauanu’u hit a home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning to lift the Seariders past the Hurricanes.
| At Kapolei |
| Waianae (2-0) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Kapolei (0-2) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Cranci Kamaka and Mahina Chong. Kayla Pedebone and Alecia Kupihea.
W–Kamaka. L–Pedebone.
Leading hitters–Wain: Delcie Williams 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs; Kashington Kahihikolo-Galarza 2-2, RBI; Moani Kupahu 2-2, RBI; Nojima 2-2, 2B, RBI; Leilani Lastimosa 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs; Kumai-Farrell 1-3, 3 RBIs; Robi Lono 1-4, RBI. Kaim: Ahliyah Aiona 1-2.
OIA WHITE
McKinley 17, Kalaheo 2, 5 inn.
Grace Kapesie finished with two doubles and a home run as the Tigers routed the Mustangs in five innings.
| At Kalaheo |
| Mckinley (1-0) |
731 |
24 |
— |
17 |
10 |
0 |
| Kalaheo (1-1) |
000 |
20 |
— |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Jillian Cristobal and Rachel Amor. Tiffany Bush and Autumn Grant.
W–Cristobal. L–Bush.
Leading hitters–McK: Grace Kapesi 3-6, 2 2Bs, HR; Tiare Sugui 2-5, 2B.
Nanakuli 3, Aiea 1
The Golden Hawks scored two unearned runs in the top half of the seventh as they remained unbeated with a victory over Na Alii.
| At Aiea |
| Nanakuli (2-0) |
100 |
000 |
2 |
— |
3 |
7 |
2 |
| Aiea (0-1) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Chyanne Koko and Precious Meyers. Kayla Higuchi and Kailie Alama.
W–Koko. L–Higuchi.
Leading hitters–Nana: Ashley Zangieson 2-4; Koko 2-4, 2B. Aiea: Chantelle Shimabukuro 1-3.
ILH
Maryknoll 14, Sacred Hearts 0, 5 inn.
Shearyna Labasan struck out five as the Spartans blanked the Lancers in a mercy-rule game.
| At Sand Island District Part |
| Sac. Hearts (0-2) |
000 |
00 |
— |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Maryknoll (1-1) |
410 |
9x |
— |
14 |
12 |
0 |
Kaua Huihui-Awa, Makea Kaluau (4) and Jamie Toler. Shearyna Labasan and Casey Magdadaro.
W–Labasan. L–Huihui-Awa.
Leading hitters–MS: Tamia Hirano 3-3, 3 runs, RBI; Bri Ryan 2-2, run, 2 RBIs; Raven Satla 2-3, run, 2 RBIs.
Pac-Five 13, St. Francis 11
The Wolfpack held off a late rally by the Saints for their first win in league play.
| At Ala Wai |
| Pac-five (1-1) |
201 |
332 |
2 |
— |
13 |
10 |
2 |
| St. Francis (0-2) |
030 |
013 |
4 |
— |
11 |
13 |
6 |
Megan Yoshioka and Karley Ann Yoshioka. S. Simms and T. Creekmur.
W–Yoshioka. L–Simms.
Leading hitters–P5: P. Salavea 3-4, RBI; B. Tovio-Asato 2-4, 2 RBIs; K. Russell 2-5, RBI; Yoshioka, 2B, 2 RBIs. StF: R. Vili 3-4, 2B; J. Hudson 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs; K. Matsumura 2-4, 3B; S. Sims 2-4.
Thursday
OIA RED EAST
Kailua 13, Kaimuki 0, 5 innings
BASEBALL
OIA RED EAST
Kalani 3, Kalaheo 2, 10 inn.
Micah Wong hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Falcons defeated the Mustangs.
| At Kalani |
| Kalaheo (0-2) |
000 |
000 |
200 |
0 |
— |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| Kalani (1-0) |
100 |
010 |
000 |
1 |
— |
3 |
7 |
5 |
Battery, pitchers of record and leading hitters not reported
OIA RED WEST
Kapolei 7, Aiea 5
A five-run third inning propelled the Hurricanes to victory over Na Alii.
| At Aiea |
| Kapolei (1-0) |
105 |
001 |
0 |
— |
7 |
6 |
1 |
| Aiea (0-1) |
300 |
011 |
0 |
— |
5 |
9 |
2 |
Aizon Kahana, Joey Ching (5), Jace Barayuga (5) and Tyler Hao. Micah Peters-Valdez, Austin Yoshino (3), Kobe Kato (5) and Hunter Yara
W–Kahana. L–Peters-Valdez. S–Barayuga
Leading hitters–Kapo: Ty-Noah Williams 2-5, double; Dylan White, 1-3, double, RBI; Kahana 1-3, double, RBI; Jaryn Bulseco RBI. Aiea: Jaryn Nakamoto 2-2, RBI; Hunter Yara 2-4, RBI; Chaz Quebral-Acosta 2-4, double; Liwai Manoa double, 3 RBIs.
Thursday
ILH
Damien 14, Pac-Five 1
83
KRYSTLE MARCELLUS